For the Love of Food

Welcome to Friday’s For The Love of Food, Summer Tomato’s weekly link roundup.

This week trans fats might be healthy, a simple way to lose 7 lbs, and why we were thinner in the 80s.

Too busy to read them all? Try this awesome free speed reading app I just discovered to read at 300+ wpm. So neat!

Want to see all my favorite links? (There’s lots more). Be sure to follow me on Delicious. I also share links on Twitter @summertomato and the Summer Tomato Facebook page. I’m very active on all these sites and would love to connect with you.

Links of the week

• Longer fasts might help with weight loss but Americans eat all day long <<Super interesting. Now that I eat complete, satisfying meals 3x/day (plus a snack around workouts) I virtually never graze or eat after dinner. Maybe my 10 year weight control has been an unintended benefit of a prolonged fast between days? (LA Times)
• Not all trans fatty acids are bad for you, new research suggests <<This is fascinating because researchers always assumed (for plausible reasons) there was no safe amount of trans fats you could consume, but this study of people with generally low intake shows that naturally occurring trans fats (in meat and dairy) may be less dangerous and maybe even beneficial compared to industrially made hydrogenated trans fats. (ScienceDaily).
• When it comes to controlling weight, not all fruits and vegetables are created equal <<This is interesting, but I have to wonder if corn, peas and potatoes aren’t just proxy vegetables for more unhealthful diets overall compared to people who eat more leafy greens. (LA Times)
• Researchers have discovered a surprisingly simple way to get kids to eat more veggies <<Don’t pair them with burgers and chicken nuggets, lol. (Washington Post)
• The Money Spent Selling Sugar to Americans Is Staggering <<You probably already knew that, but this is still worth the read. (The Atlantic)
• Why It Was Easier to Be Skinny in the 1980s <<I’d like to see this study replicated/validated before putting too much faith in it. But it is interesting to consider other factors, such as gut health, that might contribute to metabolism and weight control. (The Atlantic)
• Why do we waste so much food, and how can we do better? <<Finally some practical advice on how to waste less food at home. Interesting that being realistic when shopping is a big factor. (Washington Post)
• Wash the Dishes and Cleanse the Mind? <<Turn your dishwashing into a zen practice? Not a bad call. (WSJ)
• How to Put Out a Chilli Fire in Your Mouth (plus Cajun Chicken in a Paper Bag Recipe) <<It’s so refreshing to get real scientific advice on a problem like accidental chili ingestion. Plus a super innovative spicy chicken recipe. (Stone Soup)
• What’s the Best Diet? Healthy Eating 101 <<A summary of everything on Summer Tomato (except maybe my love of bizarre foods) in a fun 15 min video.

What inspired you this week?